Saving King

The WORD today (see http://usccb.org/bible/readings/112016.cfm) reminds me that Christ is a saving king. 

When we hear the word king, what usually comes to mind are the kings of the world – with crown of gold, jewels, with a lot of servants and powerful in his kingdom. However, Christ our King is different.

Christ is a saving King. 

In the first reading, we see that God sent David to bring the people back to God. He wants us back into his kingdom, into his presence. Why? Not because he needs servants or knights to defend him but because he wants us to be saved, to be happy, to be prosperous. The only way we could have all these is if we are back in his arms, in his goodness, in his kingdom.

In the gospel, we see the repentant thief. During his last moments in this world, he recognized Christ, and made him king in his life. Talk about being saved by the bell. Jesus saw how sincere and repentant the sinner is, and immediately granted him salvation. We also see how powerful Jesus is to be able to say the words: “Today, you will be with me in Paradise”

In as much as we are reminded of Jesus’ kingship, he does not want us to end there. We should go beyond knowing that Jesus is king and that he loves us and wants to save us. We should not only know that Jesus is king, we should also proclaim and live it.

We can only proclaim and live Christ's kingship if he is king of our hearts. 

God is the king of the universe, but He also wants to be the king of our hearts. He is all powerful, but he does not have power over our hearts and our decisions. God wants to also be the king of our lives. That is what we should work on as well. our everyday decisions,  our everyday words and actions, we tell him who our king is. We tell him who we are – are we of this world, or of God. 

In our lives, a lot of people and things are trying to take away the place of Jesus as our king. A lot of temptations, and false kings. Like the repentant thief, may we recognize him amidst all these, and take it a step further to always recognize and make him king in our lives. Only then can we proclaim him.  

May we make Christ the king of our lives so we can proclaim and share him with others. 

Father God,

Thank you for today. Thank you for another day to live. Thank you for this weekend. Thank you for all the lessons and realizations. Lord, sorry for the times I do not make you my king. Sorry for the times I ignore you. Sorry for the times I do not proclaim you. Lord, I pray that you help me to be sensitive to you. may I always recognize you and make you the only king in my life. Help me proclaim you. Help me bring you to others and spread your kingdom here on earth. Use me to make your kingdom and your saving love more real and more alive. Amen. 

Blessed Sunday!

In Christ,

-g-

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November 20, 2016
The Solemnity of Our Lord Jesus Christ, King of the Universe
Lectionary: 162

Reading 1 2 Sm 5:1-3

In those days, all the tribes of Israel came to David in Hebron and said:
“Here we are, your bone and your flesh.
In days past, when Saul was our king,
it was you who led the Israelites out and brought them back.
And the LORD said to you,
‘You shall shepherd my people Israel
and shall be commander of Israel.’”
When all the elders of Israel came to David in Hebron,
King David made an agreement with them there before the LORD,
and they anointed him king of Israel.

Responsorial Psalm Ps 122:1-2, 3-4, 4-5

R. (cf. 1) Let us go rejoicing to the house of the Lord.
I rejoiced because they said to me,
"We will go up to the house of the LORD."
And now we have set foot
within your gates, O Jerusalem.
R. Let us go rejoicing to the house of the Lord.
Jerusalem, built as a city
with compact unity.
To it the tribes go up,
the tribes of the LORD.
R. Let us go rejoicing to the house of the Lord.
According to the decree for Israel,
to give thanks to the name of the LORD.
In it are set up judgment seats,
seats for the house of David.
R. Let us go rejoicing to the house of the Lord.

Reading 2 Col 1:12-20

Brothers and sisters:
Let us give thanks to the Father,
who has made you fit to share
in the inheritance of the holy ones in light.
He delivered us from the power of darkness
and transferred us to the kingdom of his beloved Son,
in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.

He is the image of the invisible God,
the firstborn of all creation.
For in him were created all things in heaven and on earth,
the visible and the invisible,
whether thrones or dominions or principalities or powers;
all things were created through him and for him.
He is before all things,
and in him all things hold together.
He is the head of the body, the church.
He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead,
that in all things he himself might be preeminent.
For in him all the fullness was pleased to dwell,
and through him to reconcile all things for him,
making peace by the blood of his cross
through him, whether those on earth or those in heaven.

Alleluia Mk 11:9, 10

R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!
Blessed is the kingdom of our father David that is to come!
R. Alleluia, alleluia.

Gospel Lk 23:35-43

The rulers sneered at Jesus and said,
“He saved others, let him save himself
if he is the chosen one, the Christ of God.”
Even the soldiers jeered at him.
As they approached to offer him wine they called out,
“If you are King of the Jews, save yourself.”
Above him there was an inscription that read,
“This is the King of the Jews.”

Now one of the criminals hanging there reviled Jesus, saying,
“Are you not the Christ?
Save yourself and us.”
The other, however, rebuking him, said in reply,
“Have you no fear of God,
for you are subject to the same condemnation?
And indeed, we have been condemned justly,
for the sentence we received corresponds to our crimes,
but this man has done nothing criminal.”
Then he said,
“Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.”
He replied to him,
“Amen, I say to you,

today you will be with me in Paradise.”